New Delhi, Dec 02: The nightingale won't sing in a gilded cage. Perhaps that explains why Lata Mangeshkar, one of the nominated members, never comes to the Rajya Sabha. There was a furore this week over her leave application when Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptullah sought the members' view about her unending absence from the House.

Though the leave was granted as it involved the 'Melody Queen,' the issue of absenteeism in Parliament came into sharp focus.
What added fuel to the fire was a similar noise in Lok Sabha about Health Minister Shatrughan Sinha, who plays truant as effectively as his villainous grin invariably cut the hero to size on the silver screen.